United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Children 

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Children

Topic: Protecting the Welfare of Refugee

Rules of Procedure: Robert's Rules of Order

Working Language: English

Seats Sitting: 15 Seats, Double Delegates

Dias Head: Shanghai University, Shiyuan Xu

Introduction to the Topic

Refugee children, namely children in refugee status, have been described by UNICERF as "children first". The refugee refers to a person that, according to the Convention and Protocol Relating to the Refugees (1951,1967),"owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country; or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence as a result of such events, is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it". The very status of frequently being on an unprotected and turbulent move makes refugee children face challenges and difficulties with their lives from every aspect of life. Repeatedly mentioned and given attention to by many United Nations organs, the protection of refugee children is problem well-worth our most exigent consideration.

Led by the UNHCR and supported the joint work of many UN entities, NGOs, the protection of refugee children is actually a topic the discussion of which requires a concrete base of abundant relevant knowledge. The delegates should understand how closely UNHCR works with other entities and what other entities do with job, or it shall be barely possible for them to raise any solution that may actually be of value. They should also understand the humanistic, rights-based and integrated approach of UNHCR. After understanding the scope and mandate of the committee, they should then try to utilize the documents at hands and try to form their own views about the issue itself, based on which they may finally draw up their own ideas, with their national stances also being taken into consideration. However, the cruel fact is that considering the time limits we are bound to have with the conference, as well as the possible academic levels of the delegates, the issue of the protection of refugee children may still be a topic too general with too many points that could be raised. In order to keep the committee functioning in an efficient and organized way, the Director would suggest that three to four suggested sub-topics should be provided in the Background Guide, so that the delegates may have a framework, on which they could bring about their own creative ideas.

The Director suggests that these sub-topics should be:

1) . Tackling health threats faced by refugee children;

2) . Ensuring Accessibility of refugee children to a quality education; 

3) . Supporting refugee children in climate change challenges; 

4). Empowering refugee children in pursuit of Sustainable Development Goals (the forth topic may be a bit challenging for the delegates, thus it is only mildly suggested while the other three sub-topics are more fundamental and should at least be covered during the discussion of the committee).